Ideas

Removal of pesticides

1. Pick a pesticide that is present in Honduran surface waters.
2. Find information on the partitioning of this pesticide between activated carbon and aqueous phase
3. Estimate the mass of activated carbon required per liter of water treated
4. Compare options for powdered vs granular activated carbon and recommend the best option
5. Estimate the cost per million liters of treated water
6. Recommend either next steps for research or a design that could be piloted at Zamorano University

UV disinfection to replace chlorination

1. Develop the design algorithm for UV disinfection units that takes into account UV absorbance of the water and target UV dosing.
2. Determine the equivalent energy input in J/L and as meters of elevation
3. Estimate the cost per million liters of treated water and compare with chlorine
4. Compare performance based on expected public health outcomes.

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Flocculators

Take the design the next step depending on what is learned during the summer of 2019

Improve sedimentation tanks

• Design new geometry for built in place sedimentation tanks based on what we learned during the summer of 2019
• deeper floc blanket
• shallower tube settlers
• New method to control floc blanket depth

Work with partner organizations to create a specific plant design

• Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia
• Pilot project in Colombia
• Pilot project in Cambodia

Design an AguaClara plant on a skid for deployment in the US

• 10’ x 40’ container plant
• Design a compact AguaClara plant in a container. Consider fold out walkways and a tent style roof. This would be for the US market and for rapid deployment.

Invent a 100 L/s sedimentation tank without interior dividing walls

For plants with flows above 120 L/s it will be very attractive to simplify the internal geometry of the sedimentation tanks. Devise a system that would ensure floc blanket formation, hydraulic sludge removal, and uniform flow through the sedimentation tank. Explore options for fabricating the bottom geometry that would start with a flat concrete tank floor. Draw your proposed design using Onshape and develop equations for the important dimensions using Python. This design will also be applicable to upgrades for facilities that have conventional sedimentation tanks. Consider designing an upgrade to the Cornell Water Filtration Plant to add floc blankets and tube settlers to their sedimentation tank.